BMT and Sea-Changers partner to launch the BMT Next Wave Fund in International Shipping News 28/01/2026 BMT, a leading maritime design and technical consulting services organisation rooted in over four decades of industry expertise, has partnered with UK marine conservation charity Sea-Changers to launch the BMT Next Wave Fund, a new grant programme dedicated to giving children and young adults (aged 5-18) the chance to connect with the ocean through conservation-led experiences. The initiative follows BMT’s 40th year of operation in the UK, marking a new chapter in its longstanding commitment to the maritime sector and to supporting the communities and environments that sit at the heart of its work. With an initial £20,000 donation from BMT, the BMT Next Wave Fund will support grassroots conservation and education projects across the UK, prioritising communities and schools with limited access to the coast. The fund aims to break down barriers to marine engagement, inspire the next generation of ocean stewards, and nurture the skills and values needed for future maritime leaders, while advancing BMT’s strategic ambition to reach a broader range of communities, including those that are harder to access. Access to the coast is linked with improved wellbeing and drives greater environmental awareness. However, 11% of children under 14 in England have never visited a British beach. What’s more, demand for marine-focused youth initiatives already exceeds available funding, with Sea-Changers recently supporting more than 30 youth and school-focused projects in a single year. By creating a dedicated fund focused on children and young people, BMT and Sea-Changers are helping to meet this demand and ensure that more young people can experience the sea as a place of opportunity, not just a distant horizon. Laura Blake, Head of Sustainability at BMT, said: “The ocean is central to our industry and our future. As an organisation with deep maritime heritage, we recognise the sea as both an enabler of industry and a fragile ecosystem in need of protection. By partnering with Sea-Changers, we’re helping young people experience the marine environment first-hand, sparking curiosity and building STEM skills that will shape tomorrow’s innovators and protectors of our seas. In October, I spent a day at the coast with a local primary school in Hythe with BMT volunteers and community partners. On a beautiful autumn afternoon, while helping students explore the foreshore, I met a young girl who was 10 years old and despite living near the sea, rarely had the chance to visit it. As she sifted through the sand and was looking at intertidal biodiversity under a magnifying glass, she looked up and said, “One day I want to be a scientist.” That moment captures everything this fund is about, how a small investment can open new worlds, spark curiosity, and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.” Rachel Lopata MBE, Co-Founder of Sea-Changers, added: “We know that early experiences with the ocean can inspire lifelong care for our marine environment. The BMT Next Wave Fund enables us to reach communities who might otherwise miss out, delivering projects that combine education, conservation and inclusion. BMT’s support as a founding partner is transformational – it allows us to scale our impact and reach the young people who need these opportunities most.” The BMT Next Wave Fund will sit as a sub-fund within Sea-Changers’ established Main and Small Grants Progr